SANDY UPDATE: Storm expected to hit hardest Monday afternoon

The North Shore area is waiting for the worst of Hurricane Sandy.The height of the rain and wind is expected to be Monday afternoon, said Charlie Foley, National Weather Service meteorologist.

Erin Shannon / The Enterprise

The North Shore area is waiting for the worst of Hurricane Sandy.

The height of the rain and wind is expected to be Monday afternoon, said Charlie Foley, National Weather Service meteorologist.

Wind gusts on Monday morning were about 30 mph and could pick up to between 40-60 mph by the afternoon along with heavier rain, said Foley.

“Coastal flooding is the biggest concern,” said Foley. “After that it’s the wind.”

High tides for the local coast are about noon and midnight today.

There had been no major power outages reported by 7 a.m. according to National Grid.

Gov. Deval Patrick asked that all schools and colleges in Massachusetts close Monday in anticipation of the storm. He also asked private businesses to let their employees stay home for reasons of public safety.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for the entire state of Massachusetts and a coastal flood warning through Tuesday afternoon for seaside communities.

“Given the large geographic size and duration of Sandy, Massachusetts will experience moderate to major impacts, including damaging winds for a period of 12 to 18 hours, associated widespread power outages, and heavy rains,” the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.